Salem woman dies in accident

A 24-year-old Salem woman died after being partially ejected during a crash on Highway 19 in Crawford County Saturday evening, Dec. 8.

Staff reports

A 24-year-old Salem woman died after being partially ejected during a crash on Highway 19 in Crawford County Saturday evening, Dec. 8.

The woman, Karla M. Cummings, was pronounced dead at 7:04 p.m. by Crawford County Coroner Paul Hudson at the crash scene on Highway 19, four miles south of Steelville, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The crash was reported at 6:45 p.m.

A MSHP crash report states that Cummings was driving a 1997 Mercury Marquis northbound on Highway 19 and ran off the left side of the road, struck a culvert and overturned, partially ejecting the driver. The vehicle was totaled.

Cummings was not wearing a seat belt, according to the patrol. Her next of kin have been notified and her body was taken to Hutson Funeral Home.

This is the 37th fatality reported in the MSHP Troop I area, which covers six counties in south central Missouri, including Dent, Phelps, Crawford, Pulaski, Maries and Laclede counties.